"Yuhao, congratulations on breaking through to the Fifth Tier and breaking the Knight Temple's record of several thousand years."
When the doors to the secret chamber opened, a trace of shock flashed across Yang Haohan's face as he watched Huo Yuhao emerge.
He had not expected Huo Yuhao's cultivation to be so stable immediately after his breakthrough, without even a trace of Spiritual Energy fluctuation.
More importantly, he now seemed unable to see through Huo Yuhao. Having broken through to the Fifth Tier, Huo Yuhao appeared completely restrained.
"Greetings, Temple Master. Thank you for standing guard over me these past few days."
Huo Yuhao bowed respectfully to Yang Haohan and spoke gratefully.
With his Spiritual Power, he had long known that Yang Haohan was standing guard outside the door.
To avoid disturbing his cultivation, Yang Haohan had stayed outside the door for three whole days without absorbing even a trace of spiritual energy. Huo Yuhao had to thank him for such kindness, no matter what.
Hearing Huo Yuhao's thanks, Yang Haohan said with relief:
"Yuhao, there's no need to be so formal. You're my elder brother's descendant. As your grandfather, who else would I stand guard for if not you?
"Wenzhao is a few years older than you, but his cultivation is only at the Fourth Tier. He really should learn more from you. If you get the chance in the future, give him some pointers."
"Yes, Second Grandpa!"
After hearing Yang Haohan's words, Huo Yuhao went along with him and changed how he addressed him.
"Good! Good! Good! With you and Wenzhao, our Yang family won't decline in the future."
Yang Haohan was extremely pleased with how Huo Yuhao addressed him. He then took Huo Yuhao to the Knight Temple's dining hall for a meal, and also asked what Long Xingyu had been doing lately.
Huo Yuhao did not want to say much about Long Xingyu. He only said that Long Xingyu was staying in Odin Town and that he did not know what he was doing.
Yang Haohan did not press him, instead taking the initiative to change the subject:
"Yuhao, now that you've broken through to the Fifth Tier, it's time to go to Knight Sacred Mountain and find a magical beast partner suited to you!"
"A magical beast partner?"
Huo Yuhao thought for a moment, then asked, "Second Grandpa, how are things progressing with the magical equipment factory?"
Yang Haohan smiled and said:
"Yuhao, there's no need to worry. The factory won't be built anytime soon. Even if the Magic Temple sends alchemists over, it will still take quite a while.
"The round trip alone will take a month or two. That's plenty of time for you to make a trip to Knight Sacred Mountain. In any case, Knight Sacred Mountain is much closer than the Magic Temple."
Despite what he said, Yang Haohan's expression grew somewhat grave afterward, as though he was not very optimistic about Huo Yuhao's prospects of contracting a magical beast.
Huo Yuhao nodded silently. He had been thinking that if the Magic Temple's alchemists arrived quickly, he would stay in the Holy City and teach them about the Godly Zhuge Crossbow Cannon before going to contract a magical beast.
But clearly, now was the best time for him to do so.
The round trip from the Holy City to Knight Sacred Mountain would take only a month. Adding the one-month limit on Knight Sacred Mountain, he would be back in two months at the latest. The timing worked out perfectly.
Besides, he had long been looking forward to contracting a magical beast.
At that thought, Huo Yuhao looked up at Yang Haohan, intending to ask about some details. But when he saw that Yang Haohan's expression was troubled, he frowned and asked:
"Second Grandpa, is there something you want to tell me?"
"Sigh!"
Yang Haohan sighed. He had not wanted to speak, but he feared this might create a rift with Huo Yuhao, so he had to warn him:
"Yuhao, Knight Sacred Mountain is one of our Knight Temple's two sacred lands. It contains a powerful array that can occasionally capture magical beasts from other worlds to replenish their numbers, but..."
Yang Haohan shook his head and continued, "But because the Knight Temple is mainly made up of light-attribute knights, most of the magical beasts on Knight Sacred Mountain are light-attribute. There are also some earth- and fire-attribute ones, but fewer of them. As for ice-attribute ones, there are even fewer."
After hearing this, Huo Yuhao understood.
Yang Haohan meant that although Knight Sacred Mountain was a sacred land of the Knight Temple, it might not contain a magical beast suited to him. If so, that would be troublesome.
Seeing Huo Yuhao's reaction, Yang Haohan continued:
"Knight Sacred Mountain has an ancient teleportation array connected to many worlds. You might be able to find a suitable magical beast there.
"If the magical beast you find is too low in level, I suggest you kill it outright. Although you'll suffer backlash, you'll still be able to contract another magical beast afterward.
"If that really doesn't work, you can also search near Imperial Dragon Pass. Imperial Dragon Pass was originally built to resist Ancient Ice Dragons. Perhaps some of their kind still survive there. When the time comes, we'll help you search. We're bound to find a suitable magical beast."
After listening to Yang Haohan, Huo Yuhao nodded solemnly and said:
"Thank you for the warning, Second Grandpa. I'll remember it."
"Child, whatever you do, don't act on impulse and ruin something important!"
Yang Haihan gave him one final, earnest warning.
What he feared most was that Huo Yuhao would be unwilling to kill a magical beast summoned by the ancient teleportation array. That would be troublesome.
The two talked for a while longer, and Yang Haohan went over a few more details. Only then did Huo Yuhao pack his things and set off for Knight Sacred Mountain.
But not long after Huo Yuhao left the Knight Temple, information about him appeared on the desks of two people.
"Temple Master, that Huo Yuhao went north. Should we keep watching him?"
Inside the Assassin Temple, an assassin from the Heroic Hidden Hall spoke respectfully to Saint Moon.
Seated in the place of honor, Saint Moon pondered for a while before giving his orders:
"North? It looks like he's probably going to Knight Sacred Mountain. Forget it. That's a forbidden area of the Knight Temple, so there's no need to follow him!"
"Yes, Temple Master!"
The assassin was about to bow and withdraw when Saint Moon called him back.
"By the way, has Cai'er set off?"
"In reply to the Temple Master, at Lord Yin Suifeng's speed, they should have reached Exorcist Pass by now if nothing unexpected happened. The young miss should be coming soon."
"Mm, you may go!"
"Yes!"
Only after the assassin left did Saint Moon rise and pace back and forth.
"This Huo Yuhao really is no ordinary person. I thought he was all talk, but now it seems he was keeping far too low a profile. If he develops more powerful magical weapons, he really might have a chance to end this dark age!
"Ever since Cai'er met him, she's had no appetite for food or tea. Now I'll let them meet, and once Cai'er learns the gap between their strengths, she'll work even harder at her cultivation."
At that thought, a trace of a smug smile appeared on Saint Moon's face.
Meanwhile, inside the Magic Temple.
Having learned that Huo Yuhao had left, Li Zhengzhi also began to ponder.
"That child Yuhao hid in the Knight Temple for three days, and today he went straight to Knight Sacred Mountain. He's probably already broken through to the Fifth Tier.
"A genius like that must join my Magic Temple, no matter what. If there's no other way, I'll pay a price!"
Li Zhengzhi pondered what treasure he could give the Knight Temple to make Huo Yuhao join the Magic Temple.